How It Works
Your browser cannot read the WiFi signal bar directly. Here is what we measure instead and why it is a reliable way to find weak spots.
Why not read the signal strength directly?
WiFi analyzer apps read a value called RSSI, shown in dBm (for example, -55 dBm). Browsers do not let websites see it. That is a privacy protection in Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge alike. A website claiming to show your exact dBm is guessing.
What weak WiFi does to your connection
- Higher latency: replies take longer to return.
- Jitter: reply times become uneven. This is usually the first sign of weak signal.
- Packet loss: some data never arrives.
- Lower throughput: downloads slow down.
The WiFi quality score
We combine latency, jitter, packet loss, speed and (on the speed test) ping under load into a 0 to 100 score. In the walk test, the first reading next to your router is the reference, so your internet plan does not affect room-to-room comparisons.
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 80–100 Excellent | 4K streaming, gaming and video calls all work well. |
| 60–79 Good | Streaming and calls are fine; gamers may notice small spikes. |
| 40–59 Fair | Browsing works; calls may stutter. |
| 20–39 Weak | Frequent buffering and freezes. |
| 0–19 Dead zone | Barely connected, or not at all. |
Limitations
- Heavy traffic on your network during a test lowers the score.
- If your phone switches to mobile data in a weak spot, the result reflects that.
- Results describe the device you are holding; a laptop may do better in the same place.